Fire extinguishing system having a linkage operated valve

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/US79/00845 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 15, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 15, 1979 PCT Filed Oct. 15, 1979 A fire extinguishing system including a vessel (10) for receipt of a fire extinguishing material and having an outlet (12) closed by a flow control mechanism (14). A linkage (20,30) provides for suitable operation or actuation of the flow control mechanism (14). A double rod ended cylinder 36 is employed for operating the linkage in response to a remotely generated pressure signal or in response to manual actuation by a manual actuator (66) coupled to one of the rod ends (38).

I claim: 
     
       1. A fire extinguishing system including a vessel (10) for receipt of a fire extinguishing material and having an outlet (12), a flow control mechanism (14) normally closing the outlet to maintain fire extinguishing material in the vessel until needed, a linkage (20,30) for actuating the flow control mechanism to open the outlet, a fluid cylinder (36) connected to the linkage for operating the same in response to a remotely generated fluid pressure signal, a manual actuator (66) connected to the linkage for operating the same in response to manual activation by manual, mechanical movement and characterized by the cylinder (36) being a double rod ended (38,40) cylinder having one rod (40) end connected to the linkage, the cylinder having an inlet (42) for recipt of pressure fluid to drive said one rod end in one direction to operate the linkage, and further characterized by the manual actuator being a movable handle (70,72) coupled to the other rod end (38) of said cylinder and manually operable to drive said one rod end in said one direction to operate the linkage. 
     
     
       2. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 further characterized by a spring (54) biasing said one rod end in a direction opposite said one direction. 
     
     
       3. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 or 2 further characterized by said handle being a bell crank pivoted (68) on said vessel and having a connecting end (72) engaging said other rod end and a graspable end (70) for receiving a manually applied pivoting force. 
     
     
       4. The fire extinguishing system of claim 3 further characterized by a cross member (62) on said other rod end, said bell crank connecting and extending between said cross member and said cylinder and slidably engaging the same. 
     
     
       5. The fire extinguishing system of claim 4 wherein said other rod end (38) is threaded (60) and said cross member is adjustably received thereon and then secured in place.